Are these the same Hornets we saw three years ago?

It seems hard to believe that New Orleans was considered to be the rising power in the Southwest Division only three seasons ago.

The Hornets and Spurs battled in a titanic seven-game series in 2007-08, the same season the two teams shared the Southwest Division title. San Antonio won game 7 in New Orleans over the Hornets to advance in the Western Division semifinals, coming back from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits in the series.

You’ll hardly notice the rosters from either team from that series.

New Orleans management elected to keep the core of that team by keeping their top three scorers — Chris Paul, David West and Peja Stojakovic. Everybody else is gone.

And the Spurs team returns only Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Matt Bonner from its roster.

“It’s starting to look like baseball, huh? Used to, I always knew who was going to be on the Cubs that year. Next thing you know, I look up and don’t know anyone who is going to be on the team,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Maybe the NBA is getting like that. It sure does change pretty quickly.”

The Hornets made the playoffs the following year but were eliminated in the first round by Denver. And Paul’s injury last season doomed them to a 37-45 record. Byron Scott was fired only nine games into the season as Jeff Bower finished the season out.

Former Spur Monty Williams has been hired and the Hornets have responded with a 2-0 start, beating playoff teams from Utah and Denver to start the season.

Paul has played like the All-Star point guard of the past in those two games with 23 assists and only one turnover in 74 minutes so far this season. He’ll be a tough test tonight for the newly signed Parker.

Paul’s return gives the Hornets playoff hopes a boost this season. But New Orleans’ precipitous drop from three seasons ago shows that keeping the role players on a contender are important, too.